The United States government is under fire for changes to its visa waiver programs. Critics said that the new visa restrictions are discriminatory towards dual citizens.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, US tightened its visa laws as a measure to heighten security within its territory. US made the changes when it discovered that it is vulnerable from infiltration by the same terrorist groups that attacked France, SBS reported.
The new law require citizens of Iran, Syria, Sudan and Iraq to obtain visa before they may enter US. People who have visited the aforementioned countries since the start of Syrian conflict in March 2011 can no longer avail of the Visa Waiver Program of the country. The new rule also applies to dual citizens of the said countries.
Critics say that in addition to being discriminatory, the new law could create problems for Americans who would travel abroad. Under reciprocity agreements, the 38 countries who are entitled to the US Visa Waiver program will be entitled to impose the same restrictions to Americans.
Others question whether the new law is a violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal with Iran that requires US to lift sanctions in exchange for caps on its nuclear work. In response, US Secretary of State John Kerry wrote to Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif saying that the recent changes in the visa requirements will not prevent the US from meeting their JCPOA commitments, Jerusalem Post reported.
Robert F. Kennedy Centre for Human Rights program director Angelita Baeyens thinks that the "generalized measure" will not be effective. "It will not make the country any safer. It's just to show people that measures are being taken to help protect the US," she told Al Jazeera.
Exceptions to the new visa restrictions will be made on a case-to-case basis. Journalists, business travelers and humanitarian workers, among others are eligible for waivers according to the State department.
